13 February 2016｜What I Think About Books（C2O library ...

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13 February 2016｜What I Think AboutBooks（C2O library & collabtive, WAFT Lab）

Leaving my dear Jogja where I stayed for quite some time and now owe a great deal to thepeople there, I’m now heading to Surabaya. Goodbye, Jogja!!

Once got on board the plane, I seem to arrive in Surabaya in an instant. I head to mydestination by taxi. C2O library & collabtive, here I come.

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The program manager, Erlin Goentoro shares their story with me. C2O was founded in 2008 byKathleen Azali, and boasts a library, shared working space, shop, and a multi-function gallery.With library featured prominently in the title of the space there is a clear focus upon historyand archiving here. Once you enter the space the amount of the books appears quiteoverwhelming. The library began from Kathleen’s private collection of books and it has nowbecome a magnificent collection supplemented with people’s book donations. C2O offersmembership and once you join, the member can borrow books. I see my beloved masterTezuka Osamu’s “Buddha” is also included in the collection.

Shelves stuffed full of books. That’s awesome.



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During my time in Southeast Asia, I’ve really felt the great presence of books. In places likeC2O, the library plays a significant role as part of the overall space and it seems that theyoften have the books which cannot be read or found anywhere else. In Amazon dominatedJapan （and of course this is a worldwide phenomenon）, where once online, you can get anybook, any time, the real value of the books and libraries has been completely lost. Of course,there are used book shops in Japan, these also start to become part of mass consumptionwhen big chain stores such as Book Off systematize the sale of used books. On the other handin Southeast Asia, the books have been given much higher priority. It seems that it means a lotto people when they come across a book and I got the impression that people treat the booksthemselves with careful courtesy. In Tokyo, there are huge bookshops and very big librarieseverywhere and some may question spaces which promote their private libraries, however,books play a very different and important role in the South East Asia region. While there aresome dull bookshelves with large amounts of books that very few people have picked up, thereare other bookshelves in which each book is full of special attachments and memories, withpeople who are able to explain their contents in detail. Which ones appeal to people? Probablyit depends on each reader anyway.

Well, getting back to the story of C2O … The space has many projects outside the building andthere is a city walk event in Surabaya called “SURABAYA JOHNNY WALKER”. I thought itnamed after the whisky brand but Erlin tells me actually they have a popular folk song,“SURABAYA JOHNNY”. Besides this, they also organize music concerts and talk events, aswell as workshops for the public and involve in a lot of community based projects. I feelacutely the extent to which this art space is rooted in the community of Surabaya. Most of themanagerial members are involved as volunteers and I am deeply impressed by how dedicatedthey are to fostering this cultural art space and ensuring its sustainability.

They have a gallery too.



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This is a shop in which some rare books are available.



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Here are the staff of C2O. The second person from right is Erlin Goentoro. The person on theleft is the curator Ayos.（Amazingly, he seemed to pay a visit to Ongoing some time after thismeeting.）

Fortunately I could also meet the founder, Kathleen and took a picture of her, as I was about toleave. She’s been doing really awesome work～. I have a lot of respect for her!



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Try to take a number of books to feel the weight in your hands.C2O library & collabtive

Welcome

https://www.facebook.com/c2o.library/?fref=ts

Thank you for staying tune with me. I have another place to go to here in Surabaya.Having left C2O, I am now heading to WAFT Lab. This is technology oriented group that have aclose friendship with Lifepatch in Jogja.

Debrina Tedjawidjaja, the member and designer guides me around.



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Having a look at the WAFT Lab’s studio, she tells me the history.

Inside the studio.



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This is the rooftop of the studio. They tell me they have some music events here too.

WAFT Lab first started their activity as part of a promotion event organized at a warehouse,and later they began to organize various events by themselves. In 2011, WAFT Lab establisheditself as a non profit organization and they’ve been organizing workshops, seminars and talkevents since 2012. Most of their activities are focused on media art and the internet, applyingsuch technology assertively into their workshops. It seems that they often collaborate withothers and they are preparing an artwork for a club event tie-up with a tobacco company whileI am there. It is great that their activities can also link well to paid work～.

Members are preparing at the venue for the club events.

Technology leader in SurabayaWAFT Labhttp://waft-lab.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/320915194716040/?fref=ts



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newerolder

Technology leader in Surabaya.

Next, I must dash to Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.

C2O library & collabtive

Jl. Dr. Cipto 22, SurabayaEstablished Year： 2008Facility and Activity: Gallery, Library, Workspace, Shop, Residence, etc.



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WAFT-LAB

Jl. Pandan 1A Lt.3 SurabayaEstablished Year： 2005Facility and Activity: Workshop, Planning and Coordination of Art Project

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13 February 2016｜What I Think About Books（C2O library ...

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